Graphic Design BFA

Program overview

Graphic design is the study and practice of communicating ideas and information through printed, environmental, and digital presentations. Typography and images are integrated to express messages that interest, inform, and persuade intended audiences. With the addition of visual movement, navigation, and sound, digital presentations also are developed. Using research, critical thinking, creativity, and a range of problem-solving principles, graphic designers solve complex visual communication problems within the constraints of time, space, budget, and technology. Areas of study include publication design, signage and environmental design, corporate identity, interactive media, packaging design, and information design.

Curriculum

The BFA in graphic design integrates major courses, studio and open electives, the liberal arts, and art/design history. Computer skills, design perspectives, career preparation, and exposure to the related areas of publishing, photography, engineering, and information technology are integrated into the curriculum.

Graphic design, BFA degree, typical course sequence

Course

Sem. Cr. Hrs.

First Year

FDTN-121

2D Design I

3

FDTN-131

3D Design I

3

FDTN-111

Drawing I

3

ARTH-135

LAS Perspectives 1: Survey of Western Art and Architecture I

3

LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar†

3

GRDE-106

2D Graphic Design

3

GRDE-107

Time Based Design

3

FDTN-112

Drawing II

3

ARTH-136

LAS Perspectives 2: Survey of Western Art and Architecture II

3

LAS Foundation 2: First Year Writing

3

Wellness Education*

0

Second Year

GRDE-201

Typography

3

GRDE-202

Design Imagery

3

GRDE-205

History of Graphic Design (WI)

3

LAS Perspectives 3, 4

6

Studio Electives‡

6

GRDE-206

Typography and Imagery

3

GRDE-207

Interactive Media Design (SMTL)

3

MAAT-383

Design Production

3

Third Year

GRDE-301

Information Design

3

GRDE-302

Web and User Interface Design

3

Art History Elective§

3

Studio Electives‡

6

LAS Immersion 1, 2

6

GRDE-306

Professional Practices

3

GRDE-307

Design Systems and Methodology

3

GRDE-308

Environmental Graphic Design

3

Fourth Year

GRDE-401

Collaborative Design

3

Senior Graphic Design Elective**

9

Free Electives

9

LAS Immersion 3

3

GRDE-402

Senior Capstone Project

3

LAS Elective (SMTL)

3

Total Semester Credit Hours

120

Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.

(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.

(SMTL) Refers to science, math, technical literacy requirement.

* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.

† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2014-15 academic year.

‡ Studio elective courses are those designated with studio/lab hours listed in the course description.

§ Art history elective courses include Women Pioneers in Design (GRDE-323), 20th Century Editorial Design History (GRDE-326), Graphic Design in Film (GRDE-367).

Art history electives

Students are required to select three art history electives to broaden their understanding of the historical development of the arts. Art history electives include:

Course

ARTH-366

18/19th Century Art

ARTH-382

Medieval Craft

ARTH-386

Latin American Art

ARTH-384

Late Medieval Art

ARTH-383

Installation Art

ARTH-374

Illuminated Manuscripts

ARTH-386

History of Things: Studies in Material Culture

ARTH-376

Early Medieval Art

ARTH-377

Displaying Gender

ARTH-372

Art of the Americas

ARTH-388

The Gothic Revival

ARTH-387

The Gothic Cathedral

ARTH-371

Art and Architecture of Ancient Rome

ARTH-392

Theory and Criticism of 20th Century Art

ARTH-373

Art of the Last Decade

ARTH-369

20th Century Art Since 1950

ARTH-368

20th Century Art: 1900-1950

ARTH-457

Art and Activism

ARTH-511

Art and Architecture of Italy: 1250-1400

ARTH-512

Art and Architecture in Italy: 1600-1750

ARTH-518

Art and Architecture in Florence and Rome: The Sixteenth Century

ARTH-517

Art and Architecture in Florence and Rome: The Fifteenth Century

ARTH-573

Conceptual Art

ARTH-581

Realisms and Avant-Gardes in Russian Art

ARTH-576

Modernism and Its Other: Realism and Expressionism

ARTH-571

Extreme Abstraction

ARTH-521

The Image

ARTH-584

Scandinavian Modernism

ARTH-578

Edvard Munch

ARTH-574

Dada and Surrealism

ARTH-568

Art and Technology: from the Machine Aesthetic to the Cyborg Age

ARTH-588

Symbols and Symbol-Making: Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Art

Additional information

Professional memberships

The School of Design maintains memberships in a variety of professional organizations, including Industrial Designers Society of America, ACM Siggraph, Society of Environmental Graphic Designers, American Society of Interior Designers, American Institute of Architects, ICOGRADA, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and International Interior Design Association.

Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only

Effective fall 2013, RIT converted its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.

Program overview

Graphic design is the study and practice of communicating ideas and information through printed, environmental, and digital presentations. Typography and images are integrated to express messages that interest, inform, and persuade intended audiences. With the addition of visual movement, navigation, and sound, digital presentations also are developed. Using research, critical thinking, creativity, and a range of problem-solving principles, graphic designers solve complex visual communication problems within the constraints of time, space, budget, and technology. Areas of study include publication design, signage and environmental design, corporate identity, interactive media, packaging design, and information design.

The School of Design maintains memberships in a variety of professional organizations, including Industrial Designers Society of America, ACM Siggraph, Society of Environmental Graphic Designers, American Society of Interior Designers, American Institute of Architects, ICOGRADA, American Institute of Graphic Arts, and International Interior Design Association.

Curriculum

The BFA program in graphic design integrates major courses, studio and open electives, the liberal arts, and art/design history. Computer skills, design perspectives, career preparation, and exposure to the related areas of publishing, photography, engineering, and information technology are integrated into the curriculum.

Semester conversion Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. Each program and its associated courses have been sent to the New York State Department of Education for approval of the semester plan. For reference, the following charts illustrate the typical course sequence for this program in both quarters and semesters. Students should consult their academic advisers with questions regarding planning and course selection.

Graphic design, BFA degree, typical course sequence (quarters)

Course

Qtr. Cr. Hrs.

First Year

Freshman Elective

2

2010-216

Vector Imaging

2

2010-211

Raster Imaging

2

2013-211, 212, 213

Drawing I, II, III

9

2013-231, 232

2D Design I, II

6

2013-241, 242, 243

3D Design I, II, III

9

2010-301

Elements of Graphic Design

3

2015-222

Design Survey

2

Liberal Arts*

12

1720-050, 052

First-Year Enrichment

2

Wellness Education†

0

Second Year

2039-225, 226, 227

Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II, III

9

2010-302

Typography I

3

2010-313

Introduction to Time-Based Design

3

2010-401

Typography II

3

2010-402

Imagery in Design

3

Studio Electives

9-12

Liberal Arts*

12

Wellness Education†

0

Third Year

2010-471

History of Graphic Design

3

Art History Electives§

6

2010-403

Symbol and Icon Design

3

2010-404

Design for Publications

3

2010-405

Information Design

3

2010-406

Environmental Design

3

2010-512

Introduction to Interactive Media Design

3

2010-501

Career Skills and Professional Practice

2

2010-561

Introduction to Web Design

3

Studio Electives

9

Liberal Arts*

12

Fourth Year

Open Electives

18-24

Choose 9 of the following courses:

2010-502

Corporate Design

3

2010-504

Design Systems

3

2010-505

Advertising Design

3

2010-506

Concept and Symbolism

3

2010-507

Design for Marketing

3

2010-511

Advanced Information Design

3

2010-512

Introduction to Interactive Media Design

3

2010-513

Senior Project

3

2010-514

Editorial Design

3

2010-523

Senior Internship

3

2010-524

Portfolio Development and Presentation

3

2010-562

Advanced Web Design

3

Total Quarter Credit Hours

184

* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.